California Attorney General Calls Federal Government “Ill-Equipped” to Enforce State’s Medical Marijuana Laws Paul Marini | December 22, 2011 In a series of letters sent by California Attorney General Kamala Harris yesterday, the state’s top law enforcement official railed against the recent federal crackdown on medical marijuana and called on the state legislature to clarify the law.Harris sent a... Read more
The Medical Marijuana Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act Paul Marini | December 22, 2011 A broad and diverse coalition of patients, patient advocates, medical cannabis providers, and labor filed a draft statewide ballot initiative last week with the California Attorney General's office. The Medical Marijuana Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act (MMRCT) seeks to create... Read more
Attorney General Holder Says One Thing While His U.S. Attorneys Do Another Paul Marini | December 09, 2011 Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder answered questions before the House Judiciary Committee on his Justice Department’s handling of the now-famous federal ATF operation, “Fast and Furious.” During the hearing, Rep. Polis (D-CO) asked a series of questions on medical... Read more
The GOP Presidential Hopefuls on Medical Marijuana Paul Marini | November 29, 2011 It seems like every time you turn on the TV lately, there's another debate among the GOP Presidential Candidate hopefuls where they end up discussing important issues from foreign policy to the economy to immigration. One issue, however, that appears to have gottten... Read more
Washington Raids Indicate Need for State Wide Protection! Paul Marini | November 21, 2011 Drug Enforcement Agents executed warrants on fifteen medical cannabis access points across the state of Washington last week. US Attorney Jenny Durkan alleges that the access points were using the state law to conceal criminal activity and money laundering; however,... Read more
Patient Safety Drives California Medical Association's Position on Cannabis Paul Marini | November 15, 2011 Last month, the California Medical Association (CMA) adopted an official position calling for the legalization and regulation of cannabis. According to an editorial in the Sacramento Bee by CMA president-elect Dr. Paul Phinney and CMA speaker of the house Dr.... Read more
Riverside Court Allows Localities to Ban Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Through Zoning Laws Paul Marini | November 11, 2011 Notwithstanding the fact that the California Legislature expressly enacted the Medical Marijuana Program Act ("the MMPA" or "SB420") to "[e]nhance the access of patients and caregivers to medical marijuana through collective, cooperative cultivation projects," some localities are seeking to eradicate... Read more
Federal Attacks on Safe Access Continue Paul Marini | November 09, 2011 On November 1, federal agents raided G3 Holistic, Inc.'s three locations in Colton, Upland, and Moreno Valley, CA as well as the Ontario warehouse where the medical cannabis was grown. That same day, the homes of G3's president, Aaron Sandusky, and its chief... Read more
Cannabis Use Among Youth not Increased by Medical Marijuana Legalization Paul Marini | November 02, 2011 Today at the American Public Health Association's (APHA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., Esther Choo, M.D., M.P.H. of Rhode Island Hospital will present findings from a study exploring whether legalizing cannabis for medical use in Rhode Island increases its recreational... Read more
We're Making a Difference… Help ASA Keep the Momentum! Paul Marini | November 01, 2011 Last week, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a lawsuit challenging the Obama Administration's attempt to subvert local and state medical cannabis laws. Our lawsuit argues that the Tenth Amendment forbids the federal government from using coercive tactics to commandeer... Read more